Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star - Laura Noakes

 Cosima lives with her friends in the Home For Unfortunate Girls.  They all have one thing in common: they are disabled or different in some way and, as a result, have been sent to the school.  Life is not pleasant but Cosima and her friends Pearl, Mary and Diya pass the time planning and trying to execute mini-heists (this largely involves them finding ways to steal cakes and biscuits).  However, one day, Cosima discovers that Lord Fitzroy is planning to adopt all of the girls she begins to worry that his motives are far from honest.  Whilst visiting the Empire Exhibition, Cosima stumbles upon Fitzroy's most precious item: a tiara containing the Star Diamond of India.  Immediately, Cosima's mind goes into overdrive and she and her friends begin to plan their most daring heist of all: stealing the tiara.  But as they get close, are they putting themselves in too much danger and will Cosima ever discover who her real parents actually are?

This is a wonderful book with the most fantastic set of characters: I guarantee that you will thoroughly enjoy hating the owners of the Home For Unfortunate Children as well as Lord Fitzroy, willing them to get their comeuppance.  However, as much as you will loath them, I know that you will quickly come to love Cosima and her friends who are certainly not about to let a little thing like being disabled or different prevent them from doing everything they want to - their spirit and determination is to be admired.  I found Diya and her inventions wonderful and couldn't wait to see what she was going to invent next and how she adapted things from the little they had to suit her needs.  However, it is Cosima, as the main character, who I truly loved: not knowing who her parents were clearly impacts most of what she does and definitely drives her own; however, she is far from perfect and some of the choices she makes in the book lead to problems for herself and her friends - I always enjoy reading characters who are like this as I feel it helps readers to see that nobody is perfect and that we all make mistakes.  

The book is a combination of just the right amount of adventure and excitement, mixed with friendship, bravery and daring-do.  It's a brilliant read that ha already created a stir in school so I can imagine it won't stay in my trolley long when I take it in this week.

Cosima Unfortunate Steals A Star is released on the 25th May and I know you are just going to love it!

Midwinter Burning - Tanya Landman

 It's September 1939 and Alfie Wright is being evacuated from London along with the rest of his class and his teacher.  However, unlike the other mothers, Alfie's mum isn't tearful and doesn't wait to wave him goodbye as the train leaves.  Alfie isn't worried, nor is he worried when he is the only person left in the class when all the others have been chosen by local villagers.  It is then that Mrs Hartland (Auntie Bell) bustles in, apologising for being late, and happily takes Alfie home to the farm she runs with her son, Ted.  Life is good for Alfie at the farm and, despite Billy, the school bully still plaguing him, Alfie manages to make friends with Smidge.  Smidge is different to everyone else and Alfie never sees him in school or church, but he is happy to have a friend so doesn't question it.  But as talk turns to the Midwinter Burning ritual held on the cliffs near the village every year, Alfie begins to understand who Smidge really is.

Alfie is a delightful character who clearly doesn't enjoy his life in London with bullies at school as well as his home life making things difficult for him, so being evacuated is a positive move.  Auntie Bell is wonderful to him and is exactly what he needs: somebody to care for him and give him the attention he deserves.  He takes to life in the country quickly and, once he gets used to the animals, he enjoys his new home.  Making friends with Smidge is a huge bonus for him and, even thought they don't speak the same language, the quickly learn to communicate.  

I have a penchant for books based during World War II and the idea of evacuating children has always fascinated me (both from the point of view of a child as well as a parent) but I particularly liked the idea of weaving the WWII story with a time travel twist (this makes it sound rather more sci-fi than it is and it wasn't until I sat down to write this that I considered the sci-fi element).  The book is historical fiction with a twist as opposed to sci-fi; it is a perfect read for those who enjoy WWII books but would also be great for those who have read Sophie Kirtley's books.  

Midwinter Burning combines friendship, evacuation and time-travel seamlessly into a novel that will warm your heart. 

The Wildstorm Curse - Eve Werisock Morris

 

Kallie loves nothing better than to write and perform plays, and now she's off to spend part of her summer at a theatre summer camp it feels like her hard work is paying off. After arriving late, Wildstorm's camp director, Jackie, shows her to her tent and instructs Kallie to get a good night's sleep.  However, Kallie finds herself experiencing a very strange and vivid dream.  She tries to shake this, quickly making friends with Emilia.  Along with the rest of the cast, Kallie hears that they will be performing a play that was written in the 17th century by a witch called Ellsabet Graveheart.  Is it a coincidence that strange and scary things begin to happen?  Could they be linked?  And what is the shadow that has woken in the forests on the edge of the camp?

The Bird Singers was a wonderful debut novel last year and I thoroughly enjoyed it (as did my class who chose it as one of their daily reads), so I was very excited when a copy of The Wildstorm Curse arrived for me.

I adored Kallie as a main character: she is determined to follow her dreams but is by no means a perfect person; she is human and has worries and makes mistakes, and readers will be able to resonate with that.  I also loved that she doesn't allow her dyslexia to get in her way: woven into the plot are mentions of challenges she faces (reading aloud and getting her mum to check her spellings for example) but her determination not to let it define her is evident and will be wonderful for children with dyslexia to read.

I loved the idea of a summer camp and the notion of ancient curses awakening; the plot is gripping and scary enough to keep readers hooked and is a perfect read for any time of the year.  Interwoven into the main plot are chapters of the 'creature' awakening which helps to build the sinister feel that leaves questions in the reader's mind.  As the plot progresses, you will find it hard to put the book down.

With friendship, magic and the power of stories at the forefront of The Wildstorm Curse, this is a book that will be perfect for chasing away the post-Christmas blues.  Publishing on the 19th January, I know that this book will be in demand as soon as I take it into school. 

Alice Éclair Spy Extraordinaire: A Spoonful of Spying

 

Alice is back and this time she is working with Claude, a fellow spy, and they are on the hunt for an unknown enemy agent who is intent on stealing plans for a new plane called The Daedalus, which will be able to fly further than any other plane on one tank of fuel. The plans are top secret for fear of them falling into the wrong hands but agents are going missing and action needs to be taken.  It is believed that something will happen at the World Fair due to take place in Paris, so Alice and her unsuspecting mother are given prime spot in the Tastes of the World Pavilion for their pâtisserie Vive Comme L'Éclair.  From there, Alice will be perfectly positioned to look out for enemy spies.  But who exactly are these spies?  How will Alice spot them?  And will she be able to do so before it's too late?

I have a serious weakness for books set in Paris and savoured A Recipe For Trouble whilst visiting Paris in August.  I adored the book, delighted in Alice as a character and was left with a desperate desire to know what she would get up to next, so I was absolutely thrilled when A Spoonful of Spying was waiting for me when I got home on Friday.  It immediately jumped to the top of my reading pile, and on Saturday morning, I made myself a mug of hot chocolate (well I was off to Paris!), curled up and dived in.

From the very beginning, I was transported back to Paris on board a bateau mouche where we find Alice and Claude in the thick of things.  Alice is just as I remembered her: independent, determined, head-strong, full of the most wonderful cake creations and somebody who doesn't always get things right (I love that about her).  Her desire to bake the most delectable creations is woven into the plot throughout and the descriptions of her creations will leave you drooling and hungry in equal measure!  

I loved the World Fair setting which allowed Alice to combine her love of baking with her spy mission.  Combine that with the glamour of Parisian catwalks awash with oceans of delicate fabrics and beading turned into dresses to die for, and you have the perfect setting for an adventure.  Alice is quickly on the case and the plot will have you gripped - it certainly kept me guessing until the end!

I have to mention the fact that this book is full of wonderful female characters, not just Alice, and the messages about not underestimating people just because of their age or gender are brilliantly highlighted.  The idea that you can be anything you want to be shines in this book, whether it's a teenage spy, a genius baker, a female engineer or a model who doesn't quite fit in with the expectations of the other models.  I absolutely adored these messages and I know readers will be heartened by them as well.

I gobbled A Spoonful of Spying up in one sitting and it was utterly delicious!  I know that it will fly off the shelves on the 12th January when it's published and will be the perfect antidote for those post-Christmas blues.  Right now, my copy has been safely placed in my bag for school tomorrow as I know it has been highly anticipated - it won't take long for it to be whisked away in the morning!

I'm aware that Alice will be back in October 2023 for her third mission ... I just don't know how I'm going to wait that long for more of this deliciously addictive series!

Where The River Takes Us - Lesley Parr

It's 1974 and Jason and his older bother, Richie, are trying desperately to make ends meet since the death of their parents.  Money is tight due to the enforced three day week, and the power cuts don't help things either.  Then Jason discovers that Richie is behind on the mortgage payments and has got himself involved in some dodgy business as a result.  Determined to help him, Jason and his friends decide that the reward for a picture of the legendary big cat that roams the countryside is the perfect way to make some money.  With £100 on offer to the person who takes the first picture, they grab some supplies and set off on their expedition.  However, with others also after the reward, can the friends get their in time?  

I am a child of the 70s so I was both horrified and thrilled at the prospect of reading Where The River Takes Us: horrified that I'm old enough to be reading a historical novel set during my own lifetime, and thrilled that I was getting to read Lesley's new book months in advance of its publication date (I've adored her other books and she has quickly become an author whose books I get very excited about reading).  

Set in the 1970s, I was quickly transported back to my childhood and Lesley has definitely captured the feel of the time authentically with talk of slices of white bread and butter with tea, R. Whites lemonade, newspapers on sale for 3p, the fact the the 1/2p piece was in circulation ... I could go on but it's safe to say that I felt incredibly nostalgic.  As well as this, Lesley really captured the essence of the time: children spending time playing on the streets or creating ramps for their bikes instead of being inside on electronics.  However, things were tough with the miners out on strike and a three day week had been enforced; as a result, power cuts were a regular thing and money was tight (as I type this, I realise that there is a definite similarity between this and the times in which we currently live).  It's no wonder that Richie, still only a teenager, is finding it difficult to make the mortgage payments.  He's had to grow up incredibly quickly, not only having to deal with the death of both of his parents, but also taking on the responsibility for his younger brother, Jason.  It's clear from the start that he is doing his best, but it just isn't enough in such difficult times - I really felt for him.

Then we have Jason (who I just wanted to reach into the book and cwtsh).  The sudden death of both parents has turned his life upside down and, as the book progresses, we really see the effects of this.  The story highlights the fact that grief can manifest itself in many different ways and at different times, and I think any child going through anything similar will appreciate seeing how Jason is coping.  

I have to also mention Catrin who is such a strong female character.  At a time when women and girls were still seen as the weaker sex, she is independent and proves she is as strong as the boys.  Lesley has captured the essence of the 1970s perfectly within each of the characters, both in the way they act as well as the way they speak, and this will show readers how far we have come since then, 

Where The River Takes Us is a wonderful tale of family, friendship and grief that will captivate readers young and old.  Due for release on the 16th March, this is a book that will warm your heart on those cold winter days so I highly recommend jumping on your Chopper and peddling to your nearest book store to pre-order it. 

There's just one thing though, Lesley: I've had the biggest ear-worm since reading the book and now can't stop hearing 'Oh you'll never get to heaven ...'  Ah the memories that song brought back!

Whether you're a child who wants to dive into a heart-warming adventure, or a grown-up of a 'certain' age who wants to relive their childhood, Where The River Takes Us is the book for you.